Air-cushioning device for printing-presses



(No Model.)

G. P. FENNBR.

AIR GUSHIIONING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PREISSES. No. 272,673.

Patented Feb.20, 1883.

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GEORGE P. FENNER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

AIR-CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR PRlNTlNG-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 272,673, dated February 20, 1883.

Application filed August 19, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 2t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE P. FENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in AirOushioning Devices for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvementin that class of printing-presses in which the momentum of the bed is checked by a r-cushions, the peculiar devices which form the subjectmatter of my invention being pointed out in the following specification.

In the accompany ingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional side view. Fig.2 is an end view.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter Adesignates the frame, on which are formed the guideways for the bed B. On the under side of this bed is firmly secured a yoke, O, which forms the support for a rod, D. This rod is stationary, and on it, near its ends, are secured the pistons E E, which fit the air-cylinders F F. These cylindersarelirmlysecured totheframeA. They are open at their inner ends and closed at their outer ends, and as the bed reciprocates the pistons E E enter the cylinders F F, and as the air in these cylinders is compressed air cushions are formed for the purpose of checking the momentum of the bed. In printingpresses of this class it happens frequently that pieces of paper orother obstructions getcaught between one of the pistons E and its cylinder F, thereby interfering with the operation of the machine. This dihiculty I have overcome by means of a shield, G, which is fastened to or held in a manner to protect the inner ends of the cylinders F F, and extends through the yoke C, said yoke being made open, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to afford room for the passage of the shield. This shield, which is semi-cylindrical, covers the pistons E E, and iteffectually prevents pieces of paper, dust, or other obstructions from catchingbetween the pistons and their cylinders. The shield G may, however, be made in two sections, each section being fastened at its outer end to or over one of the air-cylinders and at itsinner end to the yoke, and in this case it is not requisite that the yoke shall be open.

The air-cushions, formed by the cylinders F F and pistons E E, are of great value when the printing-machine is driven by power; but in many cases it is desirable to move the machine by hand, and in these cases the operation of moving the machineis materially facilitated if the action of the air-cushions is interrupted for the time being. This object I have accomplished by the following means: Beneath the bed, or in any other convenient position, is situated a faucet, H, the plug of which connects by a lever, I, with a rod, J. From the shell of the faucet extend two pipes, K K, to the outer ends of the cylinders F F. By moving the plug of the faucet into the proper position the inner ends of the pipes K K are brought in communication with the open atmosphere, and the action of the air-cushions is interrupted, because if one of the pistons E enters its cylinder the air contained in this cylinder is free to escape and no air-cushion is formed. This object may also be attained by providing the inner end of each of the pipes K K with a separate stopcock, both such stopcocks being operated by means of one and the same lever or equivalent device.

The position of the plug of the faucet H can be controlled by the rod J, which is guided in the frame A and pivoted to the lower end ofa lever, L, (best seen in Fig. 2,) and which carries the belt-shipper M, said rod J being arranged to move horizontally across the frame of the machine, and connected with the plug of the faucet by a vertically-arranged link, I, so thatwhen said rod is moved so as to throw the belt on the loose pulley the plug of the faucet. is turned, through the medium of the link I, so as to open the communication between the inner end of the pipes K K and the open atmosphere, and 'the printing-machine can be easily set in motion by hand; butif the rod J is moved so as to throw the belt upon the fast pulley the communication between the inner ends of the two pipes and the open atmosphere is closed, and the action of the air -cushion is restored.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 7 1. The combination, in a printing-press, of a supporting frame-work, a reciprocating bed thereon, a yoke secured to the under side of the bed, the pistons carried by the yoke, the cylinders stationary on the frame-Work, and a shield arranged longitudinally under the reciprocating bed and between the arms of the yoke attached thereto, the ends of the shield extending respectively over the open ends of the cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a printing-press, of the supporting frame-work, the reciprocating bed thereon, the pistons carried by and moving with the bed, the open cylinders stationary on the frame-work, the pipes connected cal link to actuate the faucet or plug, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. P. FENNER.

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

